Uber Google.
The first imperative being to capture an audience by means the likes of a Steven Choice would be proud of.
Following on (going forward, as they say),
the second imperative being to transfer any wealth or earnings ‘upwards’ (in terms of a class-based structure) by way of shitting on the actual earners and effectively ‘taxing’ them. Not unlike the drug dealer/producer/’territory holder’.
All dressed up in a new (now 30 years old) peculiarly neo-liberal language, aided and abetted by ticket clippers such as spin doctors (supposedly with 4th Estate credentials …. and oh how they manage to ease their consciences with a bit of Chardonnay and an occasional suck on a P pipe), and consultants whose most valuable asset is now a parachute that enables a landing in any sector where their egos and supposed ‘expertise’ can be exercised. The only thing that stops a soft landing is when a crony or nepotistic cohort starts worrying and thinking in the longer term

yep … how refreshing it is to be free of the BS that I never took advantage of anyway – indeed I’d make a point of avoiding anything the BSitters promoted (going forward)
(Oh fucking CHRIST! …. as I comment with RNZ Neshnool in the beckgren, along comes a Mora with Squeaky Fromme and some other sage I’m yet to identify). But but but Jum – you really really are an essit to the 5the Estate.
Aha
Aha aha
Aha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha !
Awe! gorgusssss

Great move TDB. One less bunch of JavaScript spyware tracking TDB users. I agree with Siobhan about GMail. I recommend OpenMailBog.org or Tutanota.com as replacements. They used only free code (“open source”) software on their servers, and don’t track their users, as their business model is not based on selling users to marketeers. OpenMailBox are not-for-profit and run on donations from users. Tutanota is a “freemium” service, which means they provide basic email services for free, and a set of advanced features for paid subscribers. They also provide end-to-end encryption for email between Tutanota users, which is a good feature, but I wouldn’t rely on it too much unless you understand and deal with all the others way spooks can get access to your emails when you’re using webmail (email via a website).

PrivacyBadger (handy add-on for Firefox-based browser) tells me Google is still tracking us via Analytics, Ajax.GoogleAPIs, and as pointed out by Mike in Auckland, the Google button above the comments (along with FarceBook and Twit who are also known for tracking users and giving back-door access to the NSA). What value do these buttons provide that makes it worth giving these companies a back-door into the browsing of TDB user? When I click any of them I just get “Forbidden: You do not have permission to access this document”. Time for them to get the boot too I reckon.

There are still a few others trackers in there too, including ScoreCardResearch.com, and StatCounter.com. If these and Google Analytics are being used by TDB crew for internal use, I suggest replacing them with a free code package like Piwik or AWStats.